Folding table



(No Model.)

B. J. WORDEN. FOLDING TABLE. No. 467,845. Patented Jan. 26, 1892.

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UNTTED STATES ATENT OFFICE...

EITMER J. IVORDEN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,845, dated January 26, 1892.

Application filed April 17, 1891.

Serial No. 389,368. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ELMER J. WORDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates ,to improvements in sewing-tables, cam p-tables, &c.; and its objects are, first, to provide afolding table with the top dividedto fold together; second, to dispense with the use of table-hinges at the joint or fold of the table, and, third, to pro vide a folding table that can be thoroughly braced and supported without detracting from its appearance. I attain these results by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of the table with the top spread. Fig. 2 is the same folded, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same folded.

Similar letters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views.

I make the top A of the table in two pieces divided longitudinally through the center and provide each half of the top with two cleats O O, the inner ends of which project beyond the line of connection, as at c 0, far enough to reach beyond the lower corner of the opposite half, so that the two edges cannot but come together evenly and level, and connect the halves by means of slotted metallic strips E, having slots e e of a proper length, so that when the table is open, as in. Fig. 1,the screws e e will bear against the outer ends of the slots and hold the edges of the top snugly together and when the top is folded, as in Fig. 2, the screws will bear against the inner ends of the slots and still allow the halves to face each other upon parallel planes. I pivot the legs together at G, the lower ends of the legs being straight, while the ends above the pivot are provided with ofisets B, sufficient to admit of folding the tops between them, as in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the legs are pivoted to the cleats C O on the table by means of screws 17 through the legs and into the cleats, so that the tops may be easily turned thereon to fold and unfold the table. The two pairs of legs are connected by a round girt II, which is securely attached to its inner legs and arranged to turn freely in the outer legs and secured in place by screws and washers G at each end, and the whole is braced solidly by means of stiff wire braces h h 72, it, each of which is secured at one end to an inner leg and at the other end to the girt, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the legs should have proper circles at b and proper bevels at b, so that they will turn freely upon and, when the tableis open, support the top of the table, so that the weight of the table-top and what may be placed thereon will not rest upon the pivot-screws I).

My appliance for supporting the table and holding it in place when spread consists of springs D, secured to the cleats at d and extending the whole length of the cleat, left free at the other end to engage with the catches F, so that the top will have abearing upon it nearly the entire width of the top. I sometimes insert screw-eyes d into the free ends to work them with. The catches F are wedgeshaped, running from a point atfto the thickness of the latch D at f, so that the latches will readily travel over their surfaces and spring to position over their upper ends, as shown in Fig. 1, and are securely attached to the surface of the outer legs of the table in position to engage with the latches to hold the table-top firmly in place when open.

To fold the table, the latches are sprung out from over the catches and pressed down, the center of the top allowed to drop, and the outer edges brought together, so that the upper surfaces of the two halves of the top will stand face to face.

The ends of the cleats and latches are hidden by means of ornamented strips (Z, that extend the length of the table.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is'

1. A folding table having the top divided lengthwise through the center, cleats attached to the tops and extending beyond the line of division, legs pivotally connected and having offsets at their upper ends and pivoted to the cleats C on the tops and the upper ends formed to support the weight of the top, a

cross-girt and braces connecting the legs, slotted metallic hinges E, secured at the ends of the top, near the inner edges, and springlatches and catches, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a folding table, of a 5 longitudinally-divided top, pivotally-connected legs having offsets to receive the folded top, with metallic strips having a slot in each end, arranged to be held in place by and to slide upon screws in the ends of the divided top to form sliding hinges, spring-latches se- 5 of the spring-latches, and cleats the inner ends of which project by the dividing-line of the table-top and act as guides therefor, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a folding table, of

pivot-ally-connected legs having their upper ends far enough apart to receive the folded top and fitted to form bearings therefor, with a longitudinally-divided top pivoted thereto,

spring-latches secured at one end to one set of girts, the opposite ends being free to engage with catches, catches attached to the ends of the pair of legs adjacent to the free ends of the springs, overlapping cleats, and metallic strips slotted to form sliding hinges for the top and secured thereto by screws, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, in a folding table, of pivota'lly-connected legs having offsets at the upper ends,longitudinally-divided top hinged at the center and pivoted to the legs, latches secured at one end to one pair of the cleats, the other ends being left free to engage with catches to hold the top in position, and catches secured to the ends of the legs adjacent to the free ends .of the latches when the table is unfolded, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ELMER J. WORDEN. In presence of- GEORGE H. WHITE, ITHIEL J. OILLEY. 

